Kano Hisbah bans movie downloads on phones
The Kano State Hisbah Board has prohibited the downloading and distribution of films via phones across the state to preserve public morality and Islamic values.
The Kano State Hisbah Board has prohibited the downloading and distribution of films via phones across the state. The board’s Deputy Commander-General, Mujahid Aminuddeen, announced the decision via a WhatsApp message on Thursday.
Aminuddeen said the measure aims to preserve public morality and promote adherence to Islamic values. The directive followed complaints that some operators used mobile phones to share pornographic films and other video materials considered offensive to Islamic teachings and the state’s cultural norms.
“The board has deployed its personnel to monitor compliance through routine patrols and enforcement operations across the state,” Aminuddeen said. “Anyone found violating the directive will face legal action in accordance with the laws of Kano State”.
Aminuddeen advised those affected by the ban to pursue alternative lawful sources of income. He attributed the increasing moral decadence among young people to their exposure to indecent films and videos.
The board has introduced several initiatives in recent years to uphold Islamic values and maintain public morality. In 2024, it banned male Disc Jockeys from performing at female-only events across the state. The board’s Commander General, Aminu Daurawa, said only women could officiate at gatherings organised for women to prevent men and women from mixing.
The ban on movie downloads is the latest in a series of morality policing measures in Kano. The question is whether the board has the capacity to enforce the ban or whether it will remain a symbolic gesture. The ban also raises questions about the limits of state authority over personal devices and the definition of what constitutes offensive content.
This echoes the 2024 ban on male DJs at female events, which also drew criticism for overreach. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a state asserting its moral authority over the private lives of its citizens.
The winners: the Hisbah Board, which has asserted its authority. The losers: Kano residents who download movies on their phones, and the Nigerian public, which must navigate an expanding web of moral regulations.
Bottom Line: Kano has banned movie downloads on phones. The Hisbah Board is watching. The question is whether the ban will be enforced or ignored.